Dining bites: Merry mixers on tap at suburban restaurants
Seasonal sippers
Bonefish Grill: The Winter White Cosmo - a blend of Reyka Vodka, Cointreau, St. Germain Elderflower liqueur, white cranberry juice, fresh lime juice and garnished with frozen cranberries - is back for the colder months for $9.60. Order it as an accompaniment to the winter specials, which include the Baja scallops and shrimp scampi pasta ($18.90) and the Rockefeller "Butterfish" (Alaskan sablefish, aka black cod, with creamy spinach and jumbo lump crab and a choice of two sides for $28.90). Dessert features the warm chocolate lava cake garnished with fresh berries and housemade whipped cream for $9. Bonefish Grill is at 1604 Randall Road, Algonquin, (847) 658-9268; 15537 S. Lagrange Road, Orland Park, (708) 873-5170; 9310 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, (847) 674-4634; and 180 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg, (847) 534-0679; bonefishgrill.com/.
Miller's Ale House: Sip on the new Merry Berry Margarita, made with margarita rocks mix, Sauza Hornitos, Patrón Citrónge, mixed berry flavors and garnished with a fresh blackberry, mint and a sugar rim, while noshing on the limited-time only specials of fried jalapeños, chicken bacon ranch mac and cheese, or the steak and shrimp combo. Perfect for the holidays, the specialty margarita is only available through Dec. 31. The restaurant has locations at 778 N. Route 59, Aurora; 455 Butterfield Road, Lombard; 1300 N. Meacham Road, Schaumburg, and other suburbs; millersalehouse.com/.
Morton's The Steakhouse: Available through New Year's Eve, Morton's is mixing up the Sparkling Holly cocktail featuring a blend of Combier crème de cassis and cranberry syrup with a topper of Decoy, brut sparkling wine for $18. The steakhouse has locations at 1751 Freedom Drive, Naperville, (630) 577-1372; 699 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, (847) 205-5111; 9525 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont, (847) 678-5155; and 1470 McConnor Parkway, Schaumburg, (847) 413-8771, mortons.com/.
Tap House Grill: Now through Dec. 21, enjoy holiday cocktails such as the Cranberry Mule (New Amsterdam Vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, ginger beer, mint and whole cranberries), Gingerbread Martini (vanilla vodka, Kahlua, Baileys Irish Cream, gingerbread syrup, cream and whipped cream), Champagne Bourbon Cocktail (Maker's Mark, Grand Marnier, orange juice, prosecco and an orange wedge) or Peppermint White Russian (New Amsterdam Vodka, Kahlua, Rumple Mintz Peppermint Schnapps and cream). Or tap a seasonal ale such as Bell's Christmas Ale, Revolution Fistmas, Shiner Holiday Cheer, Great Lake Christmas Ale, Sam Adams Winter Lager and Sierra Nevada Celebration IPA. Tap House has locations in Algonquin, Hanover Park, Lemont, Oswego, Palatine, Plainfield, St. Charles and Wheeling, taphousegrills.com/.
• Send restaurant news to clinden@dailyherald.com